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“The Mission Field Just Outside Your Front Door”
The Mission Field Just Outside Your Front Door
Wade Webster
In the last installment of this study, we noticed the mission field that is just inside our front door. In this installment, just outside our front door. Likely, this mission field is more familiar to us. However, we may still miss some great evangelistic opportunities if we are not careful.
Neighbors
Obviously, the Parable of the Good Samaritan expands our thinking when it comes to our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37). Everyone we are going to discuss in this article is our neighbor. Of course, the same would ultimately be true of those who live in the most distant and the remote places on earth. Every man is our neighbor, and we are to strive to love him as we love ourselves (Mat. 22:39). Having said that, I want to narrow our focus for the sake of this study. For the sake of this study, we are going to focus on those in our neighborhood or on our street. These are likely individuals we see from time to time as we mow our yards, take walks, check our mail, etc. We wave when we see each other. We know their names and they know ours. Surely, we can and should invite them to services or try to get a Bible study with them (Isa. 2:3).
The Mailman and Deliverymen
A mailman stops at our house almost every day. It is very easy to build a relationship with him. He comes at virtually the same time every day, so it is not very difficult to catch him and to have a brief conversation with him. Deliverymen also come to our houses on a regular basis. Although we may have a wider array of deliverymen than postmen, we likely have the same deliverymen from time to time. Times of delivery vary a little more with other companies than with the post office. Still, there are opportunities to build relationships and to evangelize. These know our name from the package they are delivering and it is pretty easy for us to learn theirs.
Coworkers
Many members work jobs where they spend long hours each week with the same people. In fact, they may spend years working side by side. Although the workplace may be a tricky place for evangelism, it does afford us opportunities to build close relationships that are the best soil for evangelism anyway. Opportunities away from work will likely appear from time to time and give us opportunities away from work for evangelism. We can visit them or fix a meal for them during times of sickness and loss. You remember that Aquila, Priscilla, and Paul shared the same trade or craft (Acts 18:1-3).
Store Owners, Clerks, and Cashiers
Likely, we frequent the same stores, restaurants, and businesses on a frequent basis. As we shop and dine, we will get to know each other through these interactions and have good evangelistic opportunities. No doubt, you recall that Paul found some evangelistic opportunities in the market (Acts 17:17).
Community Ball Teams
Some adults play community sports which gives them opportunities to meet other adults who share a common interest in some of the same things. In addition to parents who play community, many children do. As parents come to watch their children play, they meet other parents who have children of similar ages and interests. This gives Christian parents excellent evangelistic opportunities (1 Pet. 3:15).
Hairdressers and Barbers
Likely, when we find someone who is good at cutting our hair, we schedule regular appointments with the. These appointments give us opportunities to build a relationship with them and to win them for Christ (Prov. 11:30).
No doubt, there are many more evangelistic opportunities just outside our front door, but these examples may help us to see opportunities that we may have overlooked. The fields are likely closer to harvest than we have ever considered.
